Nearly 30 years ago Pastors Andy & Gina Elmes following a calling from God to open a church. Family Church has now grown to a multi congregational Church across the South of UK, additionally in the Philippines. In 2025 Ps Andy & Gina felt God had a new calling upon their lives, Soul Winning across Europe & many other countries with a goal to reach a million souls.

Ps Steve Carey introduces Ps Andrew White from Victory Gospel Church Southampton to bring The Word for the momentous occasion this afternoon.

Before Ps Steu joined Family Church many years ago, Victory Gospel Church was his home church, so it was fitting for Ps Andrew to speak on the occasion of the formal induction of Pastors Steu & Carla Payne as Senior Leaders of the whole of family Church.

Following the message given by Ps Andrew, Ps Andy Elmes speaks directly to Ps Steu & Carla imparting words of wisdom regarding leadership of a church community. He speaks very clearly about maintaining the truth of the Gospel, focusing on Jesus, keeping space for private prayer and the authority with which this position brings.

As this formal induction of Ps Steu & Carla Payne closes, many invited guests also pray, laying hands on the now Senior Leaders of Family Church. The service ends with worship.

Today is Vision Sunday 2026 for the whole of Family Church. Here in the Portsmouth congregation, Ps Steu speaks about the Mission and Vision of the church and introduces the six Family Church Values which will be expounded during the following weeks...

1. We Value People
2. We Value New life
3. We Value Relationship with God
4. We Value Church Family
5. We Value Gathering
6. We Value Commissioning

Each of these is represented by a part of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) - a central Christian teaching on God's unconditional love and forgiveness. All other Family Church congregations heard a recorded version of this message and everyone received a booklet entitled Reach, Grow, Empower, explaining these values. Please refer to www.family.church for further details.

This week Ps Carla caries on the theme begun by Ps Steu last week. She begins speaking about Saul (who became Paul) and how he persecuted the Christians - Acts 8:3 (NLT) “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.” Later, scripture tells us - Acts 9:1 (NLT) “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.”

This continues in Acts 9, but then Saul has a life-changing encounter with Jesus! He had to let go of the “old” life in order to live in the new life that God had for him. As Paul, he wrote a huge part of the New Testament, teaching the early Christians about salvation by grace and the “New Creation”. Paul endured much hardship, but at the end of his life he was able to say this: “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT).

Paul completed the race that God had given him. He was totally reliant on God as he ran his race. Two major things that can hinder us to run the race that God has set before us are self-reliance & pride. The race that God has called us to requires faithfulness and consistency.

We must strip off the things that are unnecessary - sin, weights, offence, hurt, shame, self-reliance, pride, distractions etc. Ps Carla takes us through many scriptures illustrating these points and ends with the challenge that we must run into the presence of God and hold on to the hope that He brings to our lives.

This hope is JESUS!

This week Ps Steu thanks Pastors Andy & Gina for the amazing foundation they created in Family Church, reflecting on last week which was a celebration of Ps Andy's & Ps Gina's ministry as they move towards their international soul saving calling.

Ps Steu's keystone verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" There is a past work that has occurred in our lives, that in this present day causes us to stand before God as the new creations. That past work is the moment our faith was placed in Jesus Christ. An incredible Exchange of the Cross happened in our lives.

The theme of this message is very much that with God all things can be made new. There is nothing that God cannot make new. Our lives have been redeemed, fully. We have been brought back through Jesus to God, but God is now in the process of restoring that which was brought back to him. Often, even when we were straight, we walked away from God. We all have to come to the point where we come to our senses and accept Jesus, returning to God.

Ps Steu continues by recounting the story of Jairus daughter, after Jesus healed the woman who touched the hem of His garment. He speaks about the crowd that needs to be got out of the way on order for us to unblock the way to Jesus. Some of us need to clear a path, get rid of the crowd, the distraction, the opinions, the the stuff that is just blocking us getting to what Jesus wants to do in our lives.

Let us have the faith to move away from the 'crowds' in our lives so we can focus on Jesus to know Him, obey Him, love Him. It's time to have faith in God in order He can do a new thing in the impossible situations in our lives.

Twenty Eight years ago Ps Andy Elmes began what was then called Abide in the Vine Family Church. This was in response to a definite calling from God which has seen a church grow from just a handful of people to a multi congregational soul saving ministry within and beyond the UK. Pastors Andy & Gina now face a new challenge, a new calling from God, equally daunting maybe but their faith in God keeps them aligned to His calling, to begin a Soul Saving activity to reach at least a million people worldwide.

The ministry of Ps Andy & Gina can be reached at https://greatbiglife.co.uk/ and presently Ps Andy's book 'Soul Winner' is being translated into multiple languages to make the content accessible to many nations.

As one chapter closes and another begins for Family Church, it was fitting on PS Andy's birthday to recount the history of his ministry and that of the church. Ps Steu introduces Ps Sarah Carter who interviews Andy & Gina Elmes "This is your Life" style.

Many contributors and friends send messages of congratulation, encouragement and blessing. The evening ends with prayers and laying on of hands over Ps Andy & Gina for their next chapter in life with special prayers for their 'sending out in Jesus' name'.

Ps Steu ends the evening with closing remarks.

This was a once in a lifetime service......

In his last Sunday morning message to the Portsmouth congregation of Family Church, Ps Andy speaks about one of his original messages when he began the church nearly 30 years ago.

Through the blood of Jesus we have Redemption - we are redeemed, and at the cross, the Divine Exchange took place where the sins of us all were taken by Jesus, the only sin free man ever.

Andy illustrates this with a personal story about a model boat which was stolen then rescued from a charity shop.....it had to be bought back, at a price, indicating its value. This mirrors God's love for us and the sacrifice of Jesus.

Listen with intent at this wonderful inspiring message!

Today was a momentous occasion in Family Church....Ps Andy & Gina Elmes passed the Family Church Baton of Leadership to Ps Steu & Carla Payne. The following words were written by Ps Andy & Gina...

There are moments in life when you realise you are standing on holy ground - not because something is ending, but because something has been faithfully completed.

After 28 years of founding, leading, pastoring, and building this church and ministry, the time has come for us to step aside and step forward. To release what has been entrusted to us, and to trust God for what He has entrusted to others.

Ecclesiastes reminds us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Seasons change, not because something has failed, but because God is faithful to finish what He starts - and bold enough to begin something new. When we first said 'yes' to God all those years ago, we had little more than obedience, faith, and a burning conviction that Jesus deserved a church alive with His presence and His power. We dreamed of a people who would love God deeply, love one another fiercely, and reach the lost relentlessly. What God has done since then has exceeded anything we could have planned or imagined.

We have seen lives transformed, families restored, leaders raised, nations touched, and Jesus glorified. This house has been built on prayer, faith, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel. It has been the honour of our lives to carry that responsibility. And while this chapter closes, let me say this clearly: our voice is not stopping - it is simply shifting. The message God has placed in us, the convictions we carry, and the call to equip, awaken, and send will continue. It will simply be expressed in new spaces, new contexts, and new assignments. For those who still want that voice in their lives, it will be there - faithful to the same Jesus, shaped by the same fire.

This church was never built to rest on one person - it was built to run on mission and vision. Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase.” I may have planted, others have watered, but it has always been God who makes things grow. And He is not finished - not even close.

To those now stepping into leadership: you carry this house with heaven’s backing. God trusts you. We trust you. Lead with courage. Guard the culture. Keep Jesus at the centre. Stay hungry for His presence and bold in your faith. The best chapters are not behind you - they are ahead. To every member, volunteer, giver, intercessor, and faithful servant: thank you. Thank you for believing, for standing, for serving, for loving, and for never giving up. You are the living stones of this house, and the future is strong because you are strong.

As for us, we now step into the next adventure with the same heart that started this one - faith-filled, surrendered, and expectant. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going, but knowing who was leading him. That is enough.

This is not goodbye as in separation - it is goodbye as in sending. And sending is always filled with hope.

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God has been faithful. He is faithful. And He will be faithful still.

Thank you for the journey. Thank you for the trust. Thank you for the love.

The story continues...

Andy & Gina

This week, Ps Sean's message is about the 'Edge of the Unknown'. Matthew 5:6 (NIV) says "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled". We are all made to be satisfied, but often we 'fill up' from the wrong tank of satisfaction! God is the true source of satisfaction. Many scriptures speak of this, Psalm 90:14 (NIV) says "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days". Psalm 107:9 (NIV) says "..for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things".

We need filling up with God on a daily basis, otherwise we shall break down like a car without fuel. We need filling up with God, but God's satisfaction is not giving some settlement of comfort staying safe within familiar walls. God's infilling is designed to take us to the edge of the unknown and it's often an uncomfortable step.

Ps Sean is telling us we need to live comfortably uncomfortable lives . He then takes some situations from the Scriptures to illustrate how God uses us when we are 'on the edge of our comfort zone'. When the Lord meets Gideon, nothing is the same thereafter - going to win a battle with only trumpets and lanterns is pretty amazing! In the story of David & Goliath, the army was learning how to fight physically, how to come up with the latest strategies. David was learning to fight lions and bears by faith in God, it took him over the edge of the unknown.

We cannot allow ourselves to always understand in the natural, we have to trust God by faith and watch Him come through. The fruit of that spiritual satisfaction creates bonus, freedom, and faith. When we are filled with His Spirit, we shall have boldness walking in freedom, audacious faith, proclaiming the gospel.

We need to be in His presence. We need to seek Him that we would be filled. Recall that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied, not for our own sakes, but for the sake of everyone around us.